Rotary, straight-pull jar assembly



June 2l, 1938.

D. U. SHAFFER ROTARY, STRAIGHT-PULL JAR ASSEMBLY Filed June 25, 1937 .vw I rmm===== il vill!! l I Ei i Patented June 211, 1938 l f UNITED STATES man PATENT orrics 2,121,267 ROTARY, STRAIGHT-PULL .TAR assnrnaLYA annals n. Shaffer, rico, calm Application June 25, 1937, Serial No. 150,289

17 Claims.

'Ihis invention is a rotary-stem, straight-pull release :jar assembly for various operations in deep well drilling practice.

In deep well work the lower portion of a string `of tool sections may become so lodged in the formation orin a cemented casing in the well hole, or so jammed from one cause or another that it cannot be rotated free or pulled without undue and hazardous strainon the string of parts to the well head, and to the head works. It is known that up-jarring shocks are highly edective in `elorts vto release the stuck part, or fish as the case may be. I

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, reliable and readily operative means whereby to accomplish the upjar blow without necessity of rotating the tool string in either direction to effect the actual shock vibration to the struckpart.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel jar assembly in which the function of jarringis accomplished by the application of a suitable degree ottension to the free section of the tool string whereby to overcome resistance of a variable re-action device which controls interconnection between coordinate elements of the mechanism. 1

An additional Objectis to provide a jarmechanism in which means are provided to accomplish rotation of the jarring assembly in either a closed or an open position of the parts, and also to provide for rotation of one section, as a hammersection, as to another section, say a mandrel unit, for variation or adjustmentI of the resistance of the said re-action device. I

A still further object is to provide a tool string jar assembly in which the jar controls are adapted to be both set for action and to be tripped for jar `mpingement by a simple reciprocative movement of the upper, I.tension-applying section of the assembly.

Particularly, `an object is to provide a jar' assembly in which `the several parts of the control means are of simple,rugged and low-cost structure and are capable of ready assembly and interchange, and may severally be stored and transported` to facilitate emergency field renewals. In other words an object is to eliminate costly and cumbersome elements, in jars of the class here concerned, and which are subjected to severe stresses during service. I,

The invention consists in certain advancements in the art `ci well tool string jars as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additionalobjects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and. whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation thereof will be made manifest in the following description of the annexed illustrative embodiment of apparatus;` it being under- (Cl. Z55-4&7)v

stood that modifications, variations'and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, princi- 1 ple and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed in the appendage. I

Figure 1 isan axial, sectional elevation of the jar assembly with the parts in closed, load-applying and rotating relation, and with the jarring hammer in open or spaced relation as to its anvi1.`

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembly washpipe, per se. Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3--I1!, Fig. 1, through the hammer. Figure 4 is a cross-section on line ll-Il, Fig. 1, at the headof assembly latchingmeans or connectors. `Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a connector bolster part or collar. Figure 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6, Fig. 1, through the assembly mandrel and an adjusting sleeve. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 'l--l of Fig. 1, and Figure 8is a sectional elevation of the adjusting sleeve. Figure 9 is an elevational, axial section ofthe hammer in striking juxtaposition to its anvil.

At the jar assembly bottom kthere is a pin 2 for screwing onto any desired combination of parts therebelow inthe usual manner,say of a fishing tool. The pin has internal threads 3 to receive the threaded end of a mandrel shank 4 having an enlarged body or piston 5 packed and slidably and turnably in a shell or barrel part 6.

`'ll'hebarrel 6 has its lower end provided with clutch spurs 'l to interlock with pin body spurs 2a when the barrel is in the lower, illustrated position `whereby to load and rotate the subjacent parts of the tool string, as may be required in fishing or other operations. The foot of the barrel 6 has interior, clutch lugs 8 to move upwardly into interlock with respective lugs 9 onthe lower end of the piston body 5 of the mandrel 4.

The mandrel 4 is hollow for circulation" of drilling fluid and has a stem 4', above the piston 5, attached at Ill to the lower end of a wash-pipe II which extends to the top of the assembly, Fig. 1. The mandrel stem is provided with suitable spline means or keys I2 to slidably and non-turnably receive a sleeve or nut I3, above the piston 5, threaded at I4 into an elongated shell or jacket part I5 which threads at I6 `into the barrel 6.

l Parts `2, 4 and II form a mandrel structure or section of the assembly.

When the barrel 6 is lifted free` at clutch 'l from the pin 2 the barrel may be rotated about the mandrel 4-4 with the result thatthe stationary or'sh-held, splined stem d' holds the sleeve I3 from rotating with the attached jacket I5 and barrel, with the Vresult that the sleeve I3 will climb on the mandrel, if the jacket is turned right-hand, as hereintended. This action is for the purpose of placing a suitable, helicalspring I1 under increased compression between its antifriction seat ring I8 onithe crown I9 of the sleeve I3 and an upper bolster or wedge-collar 20 which slides freely on the wash-pipe II, and in shell part I5.

The spring I1 is encased by the shell Ajacket I5 whose upper end screws at 2i into a shell thimble 22 attaching at its upper end to a bushing anvil 23. The wedge of the bolster collar 20 faces upward and forms a seat for the toe ends 24 of a plurality of wholly independent, link-forming, rigid latch elements 24 of arcuate cross-section and having external shoulders 25 at their foot ends to upwardly engage a hard shoe-ring 25 which is set in the jacket I5 just below the thimble 22; the spring supported bolster collar 2l normally thrusting the latch shoulders 25 outward into such interlock with the shoering 25.

In this position of the parts the upper hook ends 24* oi'- the latch elements 24, which surround the adjacent pipe II, are interlockedinto the neck recess 21 in the lower end of a cylindrical hammer 29 having a piston body 29 and being splined at 90 in the relative bore of the bushing anvil 29, below which the hammer piston is packed and reciprocates in the nipple or shell part 22, when permitted. The hammer 29 screws at Il into the near end of a string coupling box 22 in which the wash-pipe II is slidably packed at 99.

The parts 29 and 92 form the hammer section o! the assembly, and parts 23, 22, I5 and 6 form the anvil section.

Regarding the pin 2 and its mandrel 4-4 as a standing part of the tool string and as attached to a subjacent string or ishing tool, a tension placed on the box 32 will be taken by hammer 29 and from it by the coupling means here consisting of the linking latches 24 whichare interlocked by the wedge collar 20 against and under the shell ring 25 of the jacket I5. This therefore takes the tension and pulls up the barrel 9 and unclutches it from the jaws 2 of the pin 2.

Now by'right-handing turning of the related string parts 22, 28, 22, I5 and 6 as to the standing mandrel 4, the sleeve nut I3 will screw upward at I4 in the jacket I5 and will compress the spring to the desired degree.

In order to obtain a jarring impingement of I the now spaced hammer piston 29 against the superjacent end of the anvil 23, string tension is applied to the box 32 and to the hammer 29 to a suilicient degree to crowd the toe ends of the linking latches 24 inwardly from the shoering 26 to clear the latch shoulders 25 therefrom. 'I'he inward pressure and movement of the latch toe ends 24 overcomes the up-thrust of the spring I1 on the bolster collar 20, and as the shoulders 25 of the latches ultimately pass into the shoe ring 29 the released hammer snaps UP. by reason of the tension in the string length thereabove, and the shoulder 29 of the piston 29 of the hammer sharply .bounds against the near end of the anvil 29, Fig. 9. The percussive shock is transmitted by the connected shell parts 22, I5, I5, 5, 4 and 2 to the tool. attached therebelow.

'I'he coupling, latch means 24 travel with the hammer 28 by reason of the interlock at 21, this being of such nature to allow the lower end of the latches to swing in or out on the bolster device 20.

The jarring action may be repeated at will at intervals times only by the period needed to the latch toes 24' under the shoe ring 29. The tool is then ready for a repeat jar. vsetting and the tripping action of the coupling means, here the latches 24, are accomplished by only straight up or down motionsvoi! the hammer section of the tool string, thereby eliminating hazard of reverse turn, unscrewlng of the threaded string sections at any joint.

The hammer string'may be pulled up to unclutch the parts 1-2 to unload the standing pin 2 and then rotated free to turn the jacket I5 to adjust the pressure of the spring I1 of the bolster device, or the hammer may be pulled high enough to close the clutch parts 8 9 to enable the pin 2 to be rotated without load or be pulled from thehole, with the fish if this has been -jarred loose, or without it.

What is claimed is:

1. A well string jar assembly including: a hammer section and a relatively telescopic anvil section to be jarred thereby and a mandrel section, having means to engage a fish held in a well hole, on which the anvil section is telescopic between limits, a coupling means for tensionally connecting the hammer and the anvil sections in hammer spaced relation, and a yieldable bolster device slidably combined with the mandrel and releaseably holding said connecting means in effective position and adapted to release the coupling means under a predetermined tension, and permit spring of the hammer to its anvil and thereby jar the connected mandrel.

2. A jar assembly for well strings, including a mandrel section, having means to engage a fish, and hammer and anvil sections relatively splined together and the anvil section sliding on the mandrel, a coupling device connecting the hammer and the anvil sections in open hammer relation for co-reciprocation on the said mandrel, and a yieldable bolster device having a part axially adjustable on the mandrel and having a spring for setting the coupling device to connect the hammer and the anvil sections and adapted to release the coupling under predetermined tension thereon between the hammer section and the anvil section to permit jar action and means operative by rotation of the anvil section to adjust the spring.

3. A jar assembly for well strings, including a mandrel having means to connect to a fish held in a hole, connective, splined and telescopic hammer and anvil sections having opposed strike faces, a collapsible coupler carried by. one of said sections and releaseably interlockable with the other in spaced hammer relation, the coupled sections having limit'ed sliding connection with the mandrel,` means for co-rotatively connecting the anvil to the mandrel, and a yieldable bolster mounted in one of the sections-and operative against the coupler to expand it to interlock said sections until overcome by a predetermined tension between the sections.

4. A jar assembly for well strings, including a hammersection and an anvil section slidably splined thereon and each provided with strike faces for jar action, a collapsible coupler for connecting the sections in open hammer relation and being attached to one section for travel therewith, a mandrel having means for attaching to a ilsh on which the connected sections have limited sliding motionand are rotatable, means to turnably interlock the said section to the mandrel at either of stroke ends, a collar to engage and set the coupler in connecting position, and a yieldable support'in one of the sections for the collar` Both the to move it to coupler setting position and for permitting the collar to yield and allow disconnection of the coupler under given tension between the said sections. l

5. A jar assembly as set forth in claim 4, and said support having means operative by rotation of said 4.sections for varying the reaction pressure of the said support.

6. A well string jar assembly having slidably splined hammer and anvil sections with opposed striking faces, al mandrel on which one of said sections is slidable and turnable and havingmeans to rotatively interlock therewith'and limit sliding motion, coupler means carried by one of the sections and collapsibly interlockable with the other in open hammer position thereof, and an axially adjustable bolster device for engaging and expansively setting the coupler in effective position and a spring yieldably supporting the tbolster for automatic release of the connected sections under given tension and permit a snap action of the hammer to the anvil for jarring.

7. A well 'jar assembly as set forth in claim, and including means operative by the rotation l. said `sections operatively connected to the mandrel and to one of said sections whereby to readily adjust the degree of bolster resistance by said spring to the string tension and thereby the jar force.

o 8. A well string jar assembly including a hammerv structure and an anvil section slidably splined thereto and having a strike face therefor, a coupler attached to the hammer and having collapsible engagement with the anvil section to hold it open as to the hammer, a mandrel structure on which the anvil section is slidably and turnably attached and having stop means for rotational interlock therewith, an axially slidable bolster in o the anvil section to expand the coupler to section connecting position, and a spring yleldably supporting said bolster so that it will automaticallyl release the coupling and disconnect the hammer structure, for jarring impingement on the anvil, under predetermined string tension on the coupler.

9.1 A jar assembly asset forth in claim 8, and including an adjustable seat for the spring and which is axially shiftable by and upon relative ro tation of the hammer and the anvil as lto the m tary hammer section, an anvil section slidablyv mandrel; said seat being axially shiftable on the mandrel.

10. A well string jar assembly including a hammer and a set o! relatively free latch elements attached thereto and reciprocative thereby, an anvil section telescoped on the hammer and strikable thereby, yieldable bolster means for expanding the latches into interlock with the anvil section to connect the hammer thereto in spaced relation and whereby to automatically release the hammer under predetermined tension for rebound against the anvil, and means operativefby rotation of the anvil section to vary the release resistance of the bolster. f o

11.- A jar assembly as set forth in claim 10, and including a mandrel structure, and the bolster means including a wedge collar slidable, on the said structure, under a straight down stroke of the hammer to effect a setting oi.' the said elements. Y.

12. A well string jar assembly including a ro .Splined thereon for co-rotation, said section having mutual striking faces, an axially shiftable wedge collar and a supporting spring therefor in the anvil section, a coupler controlled and engaged by said collar for tensionally connecting the hammer and the anvil sections in open hammer relation, a mandrel, and means axially movable on the mandrel and carrying, and regulating the resistance of, the spring and being shiftable by rotation of the hammer and the anvil sections; said coupler being operative on the collar to automatically repress it so as to release the hammer from the anvil at a predetermined tension on the coupler.

13. A well string jar assembly as set forth in lclaim 12, and in which the collar is repressible by inward movement of the coupler to enect autoing relation'. f`14. A well string jar assembly including slidably splined, co-rotative hammer and anvil sections having mutual strike faces, a coupler includingdndependent, expansible latch parts for tensionally and releaseably interlocking the sections in open hammer relation, an axially yieldable bolster means engaging the coupler and holding itin expanded connecting position, and control means including an axially 'shiftable support for the bolster and which is axially operative by rotation of said sections to vary the resistance of the bolster means on the coupler.

15. A well string jar assembly including corotative, relatively slidable hammer and anvil sections, a set of link forming latches each independently, pivotally connected to and reciprocative by one of said sections, a yieldable bolster including a wedge collar to expand the latches and a spring having an axially adjustable support screwed in the other section. and seating means in one section and against which the toes of the latches are expanded to connect the sections by reaction of the bolster and which seating means is operative under given tension on the latches to contract the latches and releasethe connection of the sections for rebound of the hammer under tension to jar the anvil section. l

16. A well jar assembly including the combination as set forth in claim l5, and having means to non-rotatively hold said support while its section is rotated for varying the position of the said seating means and determine the releasing tenthereby, axially slidable bolster means for expanding the plvotedlatches into attachment with the anvil section to connect the hammer'in open position to the anvil, a spring for supporting the bolster, and means operative by rotation of the' anvil to vary the reaction of the spring on the bolster; said bolster automatically releasing the coupling elements undera strain according 4vto the spring resistance and said bolster acting on a down stroke of the coupling elements vto re-set the attachment. Y DONALD msnm., 

